Synthesis 2009(6): 935-940  
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1087975
PAPER
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ˙ New York

Synthesis of Quinonoid Analogues of Diospyrin

Sunil Sagar, Ivan R. Green*
Department of Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, Cape Town, South Africa
Fax: +27(21)9593055; e-Mail: igreen@uwc.ac.za;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 22 August 2008
Publication Date:
24 February 2009 (online)

Abstract

Diospyrin and its analogues have been known for their antimycobacterial properties. Significant efforts have been made towards the synthesis of structural analogues of diospyrin with improved biological activities. We report here the synthesis of four novel analogues of diospyrin via a Suzuki cross coupling between bromonaphthoquinones and aryl- or naphthylboronic acids in the presence of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) as catalyst, followed by selective demethylation of the intermediates.